A motor-less counterbalance strut for selectively braking pivotal movement of a closure member includes a housing connected to one of closure member and a motor vehicle body and an extensible member slideably moveable relative to housing connected to the other of closure member and motor vehicle body. The extensible member has a rotary drive member configured to drive a driven member and cause movement of extensible member between retracted and extended positions. A gearbox unit has an input operably driven by a rotary output of the rotary drive member and an output operably driven in response to the movement of the input. The output is fixed to a friction plate configured for operable communication with a brake rotor. An electro-mechanical actuator is operable to move brake rotor into and out of braking engagement with friction plate to establish a braking and non-braking condition of extensible member.